Alternatively, bamboo toothbrush handles take around six months to fully compost. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. With many alternatives now around, let’s consider bamboo. Zero Waste Makeup: What to Look Out for + We Review 18 Brands, Are We "Digging Our Own Grave" Under the Oceans? What we do know is that we must balance the damage we are causing to our planet, our natural habitat and our health. Bamboo is a type of grass with a hollow stem that is fast-growing, renewable, and extremely easy to grow. So, is bamboo a viable alternative? Bamboo toothbrushes are one of the oldest types of toothbrushes. Bamboo is actually a type of grass, with a hollow stem. Currently, 99% of all toothbrushes in the world are made up of plastic that may never breakdown. Bamboo is actually a very versatile and fast-growing grass. Organic and Pesticide Free. This will stop mould from developing. Like trees, bamboo is considered a renewable resource. Posted on December 4, 2019 December 6, 2019 by Major Newbie. On the up-side, it is sustainable, does not take an age to decompose and can be grown on a large scale. It’s fast-growing, cheap to produce, ubiquitous and versatile. Bamboo Straws Again, bamboo straws are not bendable like a plastic straw is. I belive by choosing a different alternative than regular plastic, it will dramatically decrease the amount of plastic waste that we generate. To add to this, growing Bamboo typically uses less water than trees2. Thus, we have the choice to replace plastic with bamboo where possible and practical. Your email address will not be published. These 3 main reasons come with a lot more, even not so eco-friendly facts, if you take a closer look. Although both trees and bamboo are considered renewable, bamboo is considered to be more sustainable. So, in our search for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives, natural materials such as bamboo may well be part of the answer. Bamboo Toothbrushes vs Plastic Toothbrushes. Plastic vs Bamboo Toothbrushes. Thus, there’s little argument that we must make changes to help mitigate the pollution of our planet and Oceans with disposable single-use plastic. How To Reduce Plastic Waste In The Office? And ask ourselves,  “bamboo versus plastic – is bamboo an eco-friendly alternative?”. We also have to take into consideration the manufacturing process involved in making plastic and the impact it has on the environment. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass. Bamboo Cutlery and Reusable Utensils with Case. Bamboo products are quickly replacing many plastic items for a number of reasons. Especially in its natural form for everything from bowls through to cutlery. The bamboo toothbrush has exploded in popularity around the world because of its biodegradability. However, in more recent times, the mass production of plastic has somewhat sidelined Bamboo’s potential role in our modern lives. Further, it is also an eco-friendly renewable material. Reducing our reliance on petroleum-based synthetics often blended with cotton which typically requires more water and energy than Bamboo to provide the end fibres used in our clothes. Bamboo vs. Just as effective as plastic or electric, a bamboo toothbrush has a bam… One plastic utensil swapped for bamboo options can create a dent to over 200 million tons of plastic waste the world generates each year. Apart from, the blenders and blushers are made of bamboo stalk instead of plastic which is likely to less durable and harmful. Plastic is cheap, versatile and valuable resource in many ways. Why Switch To A Bamboo Toothbrush? Meanwhile, scientists and researchers continually look for improvements in the production and manufacture of our day to day goods. This being said, it’s always best to check the specific disposal instructions for the specific brand you have. Garden furniture is one use, but anything in your garden can be bamboo-based – fencing, gardening poles, planters, gates, trellises and more. Therefore, we must increase our use of sustainable natural alternatives which biodegrade naturally. Yet, each year, 8 million metric tons of the plastic we produce plastic finds its way into the Ocean. Way back when, before the toothbrush and toothpaste, people would use rough cloths, salt, twigs, or chalk to remove grime from their teeth. In a similar way as several types of renewable energy such as solar power and wind power will be required to meet our clean energy needs, the same will be required in order to significantly reduce our use of plastic. However, are the problems less significant than the problems caused by Plastic? Wood vs. It is cheap to produce, adaptable, durable and versatile. What also makes bamboo a feasible alternative is its production costs. Bamboo straws and cutlery are a simple solution to the single-use plastic waste crisis. There have been cases of bamboo cutting boards becoming more receptive for bacteria after years of use, and that’s something that won’t happen with hardwood boards. h We threw it away, we produced more and we used more. Thus, for a cleaner planet, we simply cannot keep adding to the plastic waste that travels the world via our oceans. We are aware that plastic has become a staple in our society. For decades it was a material we took for granted. Researchers suggest this is as a result of better storage of water in the growing Bamboo shoots and less leaf foliage per plant. It grows prolifically in its natural home in more tropical and humid climates. Bamboo is a non-porous and knife scarring resistant surface, which makes bamboo boards easy to … Bamboo Versus Plastic… Is Bamboo Really More Eco-Friendly? Tapping into a natural material that is already widely grown can present cost advantages when at scale. Although bamboo itself is a highly sustainable crop and can be used to make more sustainable products compared to their alternatives, bamboo fabrics may not be the most sustainable fashion solution. As a result, almost 700 species in the ocean are affected by plastic7. Growing bamboo does not require fertilizers or pesticides. We’ll have to wait and see. Further, unlike plastic, Bamboo is also fully biodegradable and compostable3. Collectively, the likes of bamboo and other wooden utensils can help in curbing the impact of plastic pollution on our planet. As a result, as any natural Bamboo products do get to the end of their useful lives, once discarded they will not take thousands of years to decompose. Read our plastic cutting board review for more details. For example, switching to a bamboo toothbrush helps to lessen the reliance on a plastic product that is used multiple times a day and replaced multiple times a year. The stem of the bamboo plant is cut into pieces. You can make a difference by using a bamboo straw instead, which is completely natural and much less damaging to the planet. Bamboo vs Plastic; or why you should buy bamboo products to have a sustainable and ecofriendly life. It certainly doesn’t look that way. Swaps are part of the solution. Its hollow nature, strength, lightweight and fast growth have traditionally made it perfect for the construction of everything from Bamboo homes through bridges. Meanwhile, plastic is killing wildlife and marine life whilst also causing changes to our natural ecosystems. Due to this, bamboo has been gaining in popularity and added into the consumer goods marketplace in order to reduce the reliance on plastic as well as other resources, such as paper. Bamboo has been used for centuries and for good reason. Bamboo is a highly renewable, natural material that has antibacterial, antifungal properties and is biodegradable as opposed to plastic. However, bamboo did not protect them as well, and boards that were more solid than wood or plastic, like glass or metal, did not protect knives at all. Reducing and reusing is also key. While bamboo stays straight and true, plastic cutting boards tend to warp when exposed to moderate heat. Plastic can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade and is the leading cause of mass pollution all over the world. So why should we use bamboo instead of plastic? We believe that our organic and biodegradable products can directly reduce the amount of plastic ending up in a landfill, river, and ocean that kills our planet. Your email address will not be published. We can even use Bamboo straws instead of plastic straws. Currently, 99% of all toothbrushes in the world are made up of plastic that may never breakdown. As such, quite how significant Bamboo will become as a long term replacement still remains to be seen. The first is that bamboo cutting boards are more resistant to bacteria growth and are easier on a chef’s knife. It grows from a rhizome, which means that harvesting it doesn’t kill it, and it grows back very quickly. Thankfully toothbrush technology has advanced and we now have plenty of options when it comes to our dental care. Also, about 50% of the hazardous waste from the production process cannot be reused and therefore goes directly into the environment. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by TRVST. A bamboo toothbrush is more eco-friendly than plastic toothbrushes in many ways. Every year, people use billions of plastic straws. I was previously ordering seventh generation through Grove Collaborative but because I live alone and don’t need 48 rolls of toilet paper, I ended up buying the 12 pack, which came in plastic and I felt awfully guilty about it. Plastic is a problem. For example, switching to a bamboo toothbrush helps to lessen the reliance on a plastic product that is used multiple times a day and replaced multiple times a year. Reusable bamboo coffee mugs were a keen favourite for a while, but in many cases they simply don’t last as long as their plastic counterparts, especially if someone accidentally sits on them! Bamboo has become the “green gold” of today because it has so many positive qualities when compared to harmful … Further, unlike plastic, Bamboo is also fully biodegradable and compostable 3. Molded Bamboo is melamine free, plastic free, BPA free, & a sustainable alternative to chemical and plastic based utensils. Once the bristles show signs of flattening or fraying, you know it’s time to swap your brush for a new one. Pozo Morales A, Güemes A, Fernandez-Lopez A, Carcelen Valero V, De La Rosa Llano S. Song J. H., Murphy R. J., Narayan R. and Davies G. B. H. Similarly, we can expect environmental improvements to many of the manufacturing processes we see today, including those of Bamboo. What’s more, we can use it, plant more and help to reduce carbon emissions at the same time as bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than the equivalent volume of trees. So, they are more sustainable than plastic straws in these ways. Of course, we also need to create chemicals in the first place. Bamboo is a light but solid wood that engulf little moisture and gain stay swelling and warping. Our behaviours have to change if we are to make a serious impact on our plastic waste. As per many manufacturing processes, the resulting by-products can cause harm to our soils as well as impacting nearby biodiversity. It can also help to offset CO2 emissions, which is another key benefit. Some products that have been created that help reduce the reliance on unsustainable resources are water bottles made from bamboo, single-use bamboo utensils, bamboo toothbrushes, and even bamboo toilet paper. That is why some time ago we asked ourselves if we wanted to use bamboo or plastic products; and since then we have clear our choice. Generally, products made from bamboo are considered eco-friendly and more sustainable than the alternatives, as long as they have not been chemically processed. Various chemicals including sulfur and sodium hydroxide are used in order to obtain the cellulose fibres that are then used in textile production. Plastic boards are easily damaged by cutting, which gives microbes their best chance to grow. If we can make scale up the environmentally friendly manufacture and subsequent use of bamboo, we can help to make a dent in the damage caused by plastic. And once we have oil we then use more energy and chemicals to manufacture it into the many types and variants of plastic that we have become used to having in our daily lives. For the majority of bamboo toothbrushes, when it is time to switch to a new one, the handle can be composted while the bristles must go in the trash. When going for hygiene you would take into consideration the plastic toilet seat, as it maintains the new look for longer periods giving you an easy time when cleaning. Be that more cost-effective or with less harmful manufacturing. As a result, we are now looking for alternatives to plastic. Where to use bamboo utensils Bamboo utensils are very versatile options. 99% of all the toothbrushes in the world are made from plastic. Plastic toilet seat cleaning. This usually takes between 2-3 months depending on how you brush. And then we can then work to clean up our beaches and oceans without adding to the plastic pollution we’ve already caused. Biosphere-Level Effects and Global Policy Challenge from Plastic(s) in Oceans, Water use characteristics of a bamboo species (Bambusa blumeana) in the Philippines, Prospect of bamboo as a renewable textile fiber, historical overview, labeling, controversies and regulation, Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain, Bamboo-Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composite Material for Structural Applications, Comparison of Environmental Impact of Plastic, Paper and Cloth Bags, The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review, Investigation of Regenerated Bamboo Fibre and Yarn Characteristic, Biodegradable and compostable alternatives to conventional plastics, Bamboo Fiber Processing, Properties, and Applications, Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.

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